May 3, 2014
Only fools think life is worth it; the wise realize that it is indifferent as regards what matters, namely pleasure. These gloomy thoughts earned Hegesias the nickname of the 'Death-persuader' and led to a story that King Ptolemy forbade him to lecture because of the number of his students who committed suicide. It is strikingly paradoxical for this philosophy to be hedonism. Hegesias simply thought that hedonism was the least irrational strategy for dealing with life, giving the wise advantage in avoiding evils, if not achieving positive goods; it seems to have no other recommendation.
Julia Annas, The Morality of Happiness That is some intense philosophy...